"I have eight siblings, my lord, secrets in my household were the only privacy you got."
His smile was a mere tilting of his lips, but still it did wonderful things to his already wonderful face. Poppy was sure there were any number of women in his circle that swooned and giggled when he smiled in their company.
"I have a proposition for you."
Poppy didn't say anything, just watched him.
"The Lords of Night Street run their investigative services from a small office in Night Street. We have a man called Perkins who is our front man, and it is he who greets clients, but he is struggling to keep up with the administrative duties. I wonder if you would care to help him out until you are able to get another position as a companion?"
She hadn't expected that.
"It would mean you would come into contact with the other Lords of Night Street, but as you have assured me you can hold a secret, I see no problem there. There would also be clients, but as you don't walk in society I'm sure that won't be a problem for them or you, as you won't see them again."
Jacob watched the woman across from him grapple with his words. He saw the flare of hope in her lovely brown eyes. He'd stunned her into silence, not a common occurrence, he was sure.
"Miss March?"
"I am of course grateful, my lord, but I-I don't think I could."
She wanted to though, Jacob knew that. A vicar's daughter was not raised to work in a brothel.
"Why?"
"Well... as to that, I am sure there are several valid reasons."
"But you cannot think of any?" At least she was honest, Jacob thought as she shook her head. "My colleagues suggested I ask you, Miss March. The idea was not mine."
"B-but they don't know me."
"No, but I do."
Her eyes widened. "Not very well, and to trust someone with something so secretive who would come in contact with delicate information, surely you are taking quite a risk."
"I am an excellent judge of character, everyone says so."
"Who says so?"
"Do you ever just accept things, Miss March?" Jacob found himself laughing again. The woman was infuriating. At least her color had returned, although she still looked drawn.
"No, I have always found it best to question things." She frowned as the carriage slowed. "The carriage is stopping, my lord."
"So it is. Come along then."
"Come along where?"
Jacob stepped down and wondered again what it was about this woman that made him want to look after her. He'd hated seeing her in that tiny, cold room, alone and hurting. Hated that because of that bastard Lord Revel, she was forced into work at a brothel, as she could not secure work as a companion. Surely it would pass; perhaps he was simply feeling guilty as his position was so vastly different than hers. Or perhaps because she challenged him to look at the life he had always taken for granted.
"Into the house."
He climbed down then turned to help her. Her good hand gripped his briefly and then released.
"Don't tarry, it's icy out here, and you have come out without your bonnet and gloves."
"Not by choice, my lord."
He had no answer for that.
"I'm not going anywhere else with you until you tell me why we are at present standing outside this large house."
Her head was hurting her, her fingers no doubt ached, but she was not budging. He had to admire her for that. Not many people questioned Jacob, especially people like her.
"This is my house, and I am calling the doctor here at once to see to you."
"I told you I would go to the clinic!"
She was glaring at him, her eyes shooting sparks.
"No need to now."
She gave him a final glare, and Jacob thought he may have won, and then she turned and started walking the other way. He looked skyward-he thought snow was only minutes away-and wondered why his good deeds for this woman were constantly being rejected. Surely he was only doing what anyone else would? So why then was she refusing to yield?
She was halfway up the street by the time he caught her.
"Why will you not let me help you?"
He didn't attempt to stop her, just fell in beside her and kept pace.
"Why do you want to?"
He didn't know how to answer that, because in all honesty he'd never behaved as he was right now.
"Is it so wrong that because I have so much I want to help someone who has fallen on hard times?"
Her footsteps faltered, and then with a sigh she stopped to face him.
"My lord, you have to understand that to someone such as I, your intentions are unusual, and to be questioned. Why would a man such as you want to help a woman such as I?"